A protocol for in ovo electroporation of chicken and snake embryos to study forebrain development

In vivo electroporation has become a key technique to study genetic mechanisms of brain development. However, electroporation of the embryonic pallium in oviparous species, interesting for evolutionary studies but distinct from in utero electroporation, is quite infrequent. Here, we detail the in ovo electroporation of the developing pallium in chick and snake embryos. This protocol allows gene manipulation through introducing exogenous DNA into brain progenitor cells and can be adapted to any type of gene manipulation of the embryonic telencephalon. For complete information on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Cárdenas et al. (2018).